What features or sizes do you want in a custom enclosure?

[BoilermakerFan]

It seems like we're always trying to adapt enclosures to meet our project needs or we have to spend a tone of money to ship in enclosures from Asia. What if there was an alternative closer to the States?

I know a friend who owns a sheet metal shop here in Evansville, Indiana. I was talking to him yesterday and asked him if he could make me aluminum chassis for my projects. He said they could if I could draw it up. Basically, I described the NABU chassis and what I would like changed on it for my project needs.

My question to you guys is what general features would you like to see as "standard" and what general dimensions work well for many projects? I'd like to give him a list of the features DIY Audio types want and the 10-15 most requested sizes so he can give me estimated prices for those chassis in both steel and aluminum. I'm hoping his prices will be competitive against imported chassis once shipping is factored into the total cost.

His business has CNC waterjet and CNC punches in addition to the usual requirements of laser and plasma cutters, welders, etc. So he should be able to produce nice, clean enclosures or aluminum faceplates. At a minimum, I'm going to have him cut a design into the top of my NABU chassis with the waterjet if the can mount it in the machine. Otherwise I'll have him create a new top for me with the design cut into it. I'm also going to have him make a prototype chassis for me to post on in this thread for you guys to see the final product quality.


MODS: If this thread needs to be moved elsewhere, let me know. I'm not trying to sell anything myself, just trying to see if we can develop a supplier of chassis that better suite our needs.

 

[wnmnkh]

Well.... 7inch x 7inch will cover most of common amp designs, such as Millett Max, M3, PPA and SOHA including power supply. 2.5inch would be ideal for height, so 7x7x2.5. This should covers most of amp layouts except beta22 and a few others.

Hmm, my family's business also has all kinds of those tools including laser cuttings and others. We made a acceptable 21x19x5 for my project.

 

[Pars]

Have them look at the HiFi2000 cases if they want to do something that US DIYers would buy.

modu

Hi-Fi 2000 contenitori per l'elettronica, case modding HTPC, Galaxy, rack, DIYaudio, computer cases, knobs,milled Handles, milled fronts, hi-end,

The Galaxy and Galaxy Maggiorato are used quite a bit and are very nice looking cases. Their pricing is good, but shipping from Italy is expensive however.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Not all of us build on PCBs. I like to go point-to-point on an aluminum chassis. The worst part is getting the holes lined up for the tubes.

What would be useful to me would be cases that are pre-drilled for tube sockets. Thing is, it would be hard to make a standard line of these - no two amps are the same. But if he came up with something nice that just needed some chassis punching, I would be interested.

Also, does it have to be entirely metal? I've been thinking about a 5-sided box that would mount on a wooden base. I think that would look nice.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

I wasn't necessarily looking to have him copy existing enclosures or chassis. The MAX would need a taller enclosure than 2-1/2" to completely cover the tubes, but I'll ask him about 7"x7"x2-1/2" with options for 3" height and a 8" x 8" x 4" height.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not all of us build on PCBs. I like to go point-to-point on an aluminum chassis. The worst part is getting the holes lined up for the tubes. What would be useful to me would be cases that are pre-drilled for tube sockets. Thing is, it would be hard to make a standard line of these - no two amps are the same. But if he came up with something nice that just needed some chassis punching, I would be interested. Also, does it have to be entirely metal? I've been thinking about a 5-sided box that would mount on a wooden base. I think that would look nice.

We talked about the sheet for wood based amps. It would be pretty easy to setup certain tube amps to an extent. For example SETs with either an octal or noval signal stage, UL PP pairs with noval or octal signal, etc. I'm just getting into tube amps, so general size recommendations and spacings would be needed.

If you can draw up the 5-sided layout on paper and send it to me as PDF, I can forward it on to him. Would you want 3/16" or 1/4" thick aluminum? I also found a custom anodizer in Nashville, TN so you won't be stuck with just plain silver... I'm actually planning to have them anodize a 9005 series single-speed bike frame for me.